The microchip
This is a way to identify our pets (dogs, cats, and ferrets). It is compulsory in Spain, for example. There are several fines for those owners of unidentified animals. The microchip is placed on the left side, near the cervicothoracic, beneath the skin. The dog is injected which, in spite of its thickness, doesn't hurt the animal.
The microchip has the size of a grain of rice approximately. It comes with some stickers which we will use to fill the documents for the dog.
Once it is inside the skin of our dog, we can scan it (one who reads any type of microchip), to test if it was properly placed.
A series of numbers will appear on the screen, which will identify our dog. These numbers will go to a database next to the information corresponding to the animal, its owner and its veterinary. Then, some documents need to be filled and signed by both parties involved. The picture below shows an example of such document used in Spain.
When the dog passes away, we need to relieve the microchip and fill a new document.
We can access this database with a password which can only be used by those veterinaries which have subscribed on a specific record.
If we change our address or phone number, as well as if there is a new owner for the dog, we need to go to the veterinary and fill a new document for any changes made. Whenever there is a change in owner, both, the new and the previous owners need to be present. when signing the document.
